Letter to Diggers – October 2018

In the Spring 2018 edition of Diggers, Bel P claims that What The Health has been “expertly torn to pieces”. No effort has been made to justify this claim. What The Health web site has listed approximately 300 references for the movie with the elapsed time that the information was presented.

In the absence of a valid critique of What The Health, I will present some evidence presented by the movie for the health benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet. All references provided are from primary sources for which I have the paper or electronic copy.

In 2006, The Food and Agricultural Organization published a 416 page report, Livestock’s Long Shadow. Dr Henning Steinfeld, an agricultural economist and chief of FAO’s Livestock Information and Policy Branch, was the senior author of the report. He wrote, “Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems. Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.” The report continues with, “The livestock business is among the most damaging sectors to the earth’s increasingly scarce water resources, contributing among other things to water pollution, euthropication and the degeneration of coral reefs.”

According to the UNESCO produced “Value of water research report series no. 48′ report, “In order to reduce the pressure on the world’s water resource associated with their consumption pattern, individuals have the option of shifting from a meat-rich to a vegetarian diet. […] Meat-based diets have a larger water footprint compared to a vegetarian diet.”

Walter Willett, the Harvard epidemiologist who was the long-time director of the Nurses Study, in an interview with Gina Kolata of the New York Times that was published on 13 December 1990, stated “If you step back and look at the data, the optimum amount of red meat you eat should be zero.”

Eric Rimm, another well-known Harvard epidemiologist stated in an interview with Maggie Fox of Reuters, “But avoiding it [trans-fats] if at all possible is ideal. We can’t tell people to stop eating all meat and all dairy products. Well, we could tell people to become vegetarians. If we were truly basing this only on science, we would, but it is a bit extreme.”

Frank Sacks, another Harvard doctor and medical researcher published at least 4 papers in the 1970s and 1980s that concluded, “vegetarians have lower BP than do non-vegetarians”. However, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was designed by Sacks and colleagues so it would “contain enough animal products to make them palatable to nonvegetarians.”

Cammidge (1923) and Sweeny (1927, 1928) showed that high-fat and high-protein diets (that is, a standard western diet) are associated with type 2 diabetes. It was not until the 1990s that the reason was found. Type in “intramyocellular lipids diabetes” into a Google Scholar search and thousands of results are shown. An increase in the fat content of muscle cells prevent insulin from transporting glucose into the cells which causes a buildup of glucose in the blood. The real cause of type 2 diabetes is not an excess of sugar or carbohydrates. It is an accumulation of fat inside the cells that interferes with the muscle cells ability to respond to insulin. The muscle cells are unable to access glucose, which is required for energy production.

What the Health showed an interview with the chief medical officer of the American Diabetic Association who denied that there was a link between diet and type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Australia website states that the cause of diabetes is not known. Their advice contains suggestions to limit carbohydrates. If you limit carbohydrates, you increase fat and protein which exacerbates the problem which they are trying to solve. Why does the Diabetes Australia website state that we do not know the cause of type 2 diabetes when it has been known since the mid 1990s?

Much publicity is given to the longevity of the people of Japan and Okinawa (an archipelago that stretches from southern Japan to Taiwan). However, the population with the longest lifespan and the highest levels of health on the planet is the vegan Californian Seventh-day Adventists.

Three eBooks

Low-carbohydrate Mania

Many popular books, magazines, and websites claim that we have been following expert medical advice for the past 40 years and we are unhealthier than ever. They declare that the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease is the greatest scientific deception of our times and that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet is essential for our well-being.

These views have become accepted as the truth. Instead of informing our society about healthy dietary choices, they are causing widespread harm.

Richard explains why these prevailing views are based on myths, fabrications and distortion of the facts.

However, standard medical advice has not been helpful in reducing the rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. This advice often contains guidance such as “everything in moderation” and that we need to be “practical” and “flexible”. Advice which is not very constructive.

Fortunately, the diets that are optimal for our health are also the best for the environment and for the animals we share the earth with.

Vegan Starter Kit from PETA

Obtain a Vegan Start Kit from PETA which has lots of useful tips for everyone – not just those who are considering vegan options.

Testimonials

Sue C

Richard asked for blood tests before we started the program. My blood pressure was high and had been for some time. It had become border line medication. From the first appointment with Richard I removed meat, dairy and eggs from my diet and followed his advice – whole foods, plant based. I had a doctor’s appointment two days later to address my blood pressure and I was astounded that my blood pressure was normal.
… Read more “Sue C”

Sue - Cessnock

I.G. – Hunter Valley

I did Richard’s course in April (2007). Since then I have given up eggs and dairy. I was not eating meat. I continue to make my own wheat bread. I was taking diabetic and arthritic medications.

With some additional help from a local naturopath, I no longer need any medications at all. I am able to do activities such as gardening which was not possible previously.… Read more “I.G. – Hunter Valley”

I.G. - Hunter Valley, NSW

Mary

I was feeling very unwell, difficult to get up in the morning, lethargic and miserable. I had 3 children living at home so it was challenging. After many visits to the doctor, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It took some time. Because I was not overweight, the doctor assumed that I would not have diabetes.… Read more “Mary”

Mary - Newcastle, NSW

Leukaemia Foundation – Hunter Valley

We have just had Richard present for us at one of the Leukaemia Foundation support Groups. The session was both informative and easy to understand, and encouraged group discussion and questions.… Read more “Leukaemia Foundation – Hunter Valley”

Vicki

Leukaemia Foundation - Hunter Valley

Loreto

Richard is wonderfully considerate and helpful and he has been called on many times to assist my Kinesiology Practice. He pays impeccable attention to every detail of the work that he undertakes which he does with enthusiasm and caring. I admire Richard’s skills and abilities and he uses his insight, common sense and intelligence to wisely assist the people with whom he is working to achieve wonderful results.… Read more “Loreto”

Loreto Whitney

The Pig Farmer

Read John Robbins's incredible story about The Pig Farmer from Iowa that is moving and transforming.